Report French National Arrested in Phuket for Illegal Tour Guide Work

[snoop1130]

Photo: The Phuket Express

 

Phuket authorities arrested a French national named Mr. Gauthier for illegally working as a tour guide, with further investigations now focusing on the involved tour company. The operation took place at Yamu Pier in Pa Khlok, Thalang, following multiple complaints and video evidence.

 

For some time, the Phuket Tourist Police had been receiving complaints about a foreigner conducting tours without the necessary authorisation. Responding to these concerns, law enforcement conducted surveillance at Yamu Pier, a key departure point for tour boats heading to Naka Yai, Naka Noi, and Rang islands. There, they observed Mr. Gauthier, assisting tourists aboard a speedboat without a properly licensed Thai guide present.

 

Upon identifying and apprehending Mr. Gauthier, it was confirmed that he was unlawfully employed by a tour company in Thailand. He was taken to the Phuket Tourist Police Station where he faced charges related to working without a valid permit and acting as a tour guide without proper licensing.

 

Further investigations exposed significant discrepancies within the tour company employing Mr. Gauthier. Although officially registered as a motorbike service company, it not only failed to provide licensed tour guides but also neglected to offer insurance coverage for its tourists. These infractions put the company in violation of the Tourism Business and Guide Act, which could result in fines of up to 500,000 THB each for neglecting to assign a licensed guide and for failing to provide travel insurance.

 

Authorities have confirmed that the Tourism Business and Guide Registration Office will enforce administrative penalties against the company. This is expected to include the suspension of the company’s operating license, underscoring the seriousness with which Thai authorities are addressing illegal tourism activities. The case serves as a reminder of the stringent regulations governing the tourism sector in Thailand, ensuring safety and compliance in the industry.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Phuket Express 2025-05-02

 

 

[ikke1959]

Nice to read these stories , as Thailand is urging EU people to come to Thailand.. Many French people don't like to speak or are able to understand English, as France is the same as Thailand.. People who com on holiday in France should learn some French, is the attitude.. THailand with its outdated laws of labour protection doesn't understand that a very very few Thais are maybe able to speak French, and French are not allowed to translate as guides are protected as a Thai occupation... only solution is that Thailand is updating old laws, to make it attractive for foreigners to come on holiday and know the Thai culture, food and habits instead of complainimng that foreigners don't understand these things.. No wonder nobody can explain them as nobody is allowed to talk in fact another language as a Thai guide can.. 

[smedly]

does he speak Russian 

[newbee2022]

Of course there are regulations. But how about enforcements?

What will be the fine for this unlawful illegal tour company? Really possible 500.000 Baht?

I doubt it.

[hotchilli]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Further investigations exposed significant discrepancies within the tour company employing Mr. Gauthier. Although officially registered as a motorbike service company, it not only failed to provide licensed tour guides but also neglected to offer insurance coverage for its tourists. These infractions put the company in violation of the Tourism Business and Guide Act, which could result in fines of up to 500,000 THB each for neglecting to assign a licensed guide and for failing to provide travel insurance.

Good

[wensiensheng]

I’m sure the French guy will get the book thrown at him. The Thai tour company….not so much

[JJ-Thailand]

15 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

THailand with its outdated laws of labour protection doesn't understand that a very very few Thais are maybe able to speak French, and French are not allowed to translate as guides are protected as a Thai occupation.

 

I don't think Thai people can go over to France and work as tour guides without a proper visa and working permit. Obey the law wherever you go, outdated or not.

[AhFarangJa]

16 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Nice to read these stories , as Thailand is urging EU people to come to Thailand.. Many French people don't like to speak or are able to understand English, as France is the same as Thailand.. People who com on holiday in France should learn some French, is the attitude.. THailand with its outdated laws of labour protection doesn't understand that a very very few Thais are maybe able to speak French, and French are not allowed to translate as guides are protected as a Thai occupation... only solution is that Thailand is updating old laws, to make it attractive for foreigners to come on holiday and know the Thai culture, food and habits instead of complainimng that foreigners don't understand these things.. No wonder nobody can explain them as nobody is allowed to talk in fact another language as a Thai guide can.. 

I did some investigating, and as the article states His main problem was not operating as a guide, but rather not having a licensed Thai National guide with Him. 

[sambum]

2 hours ago, AhFarangJa said:

I did some investigating, and as the article states His main problem was not operating as a guide, but rather not having a licensed Thai National guide with Him. 

 

"His"? "Him"? Where I was broought up this implies that they're talking about God (Or Jesus)!

[ikke1959]

2 hours ago, JJ-Thailand said:

 

I don't think Thai people can go over to France and work as tour guides without a proper visa and working permit. Obey the law wherever you go, outdated or not.

It is impossible in THakiland as being a guide is a protected job only for Thai people.. The EU doesn't have such protected jobs.. Indeed there a Thai can work as a guide if he has the correct visa, but In Thailand being a guide is only for Thais.. All jobs should be open for everybody, and no protection anymore as we don't live in 19/20 century anymore... but as long Thailand is only for Thais, things will go down and down..

[Sametboy2019]

We have google translate nowadays. People can use it to communicate with each other if they are to lazy to learn English or the language of the country they are visiting!

How many Thais would want or need to learn a dying language like French?

Apart from Russians and Chinese the French seems to have the worst English language skills in the World. Understandable for the Russians and Chinese as they have been a bit isolated from the Western world for a long time.

[AhFarangJa]

4 hours ago, sambum said:

 

"His"? "Him"? Where I was broought up this implies that they're talking about God (Or Jesus)!

Little typo on my part, was not supposed to be a capital letter, however, as we are being pedantic today Brought has only one "o".......

[Magictoad]

4 hours ago, sambum said:

 

"His"? "Him"? Where I was broought up this implies that they're talking about God (Or Jesus)!

broought! WTF. Only one 'o' in brought.

[JJ-Thailand]

3 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

It is impossible in THakiland as being a guide is a protected job only for Thai people.. The EU doesn't have such protected jobs.. Indeed there a Thai can work as a guide if he has the correct visa, but In Thailand being a guide is only for Thais.. All jobs should be open for everybody, and no protection anymore as we don't live in 19/20 century anymore... but as long Thailand is only for Thais, things will go down and down..

There is a reason why some jobs are for Thais only and there is also a reason why only Thais can own land in Thailand. In some cases, the country would probably benefit to be more open, but they set the rules and overall, I think they have to be very strikt in order not to be completely overrun by foreigners.

 

 

 

[sambum]

55 minutes ago, AhFarangJa said:

Little typo on my part, was not supposed to be a capital letter, however, as we are being pedantic today Brought has only one "o".......

 

Damn! I did see that and deleted it, but it obviously didn't delete, but thank you for bringing it to my attention! 🙂 (P.S. "Brought" should not have a capital "B", and there should be a comma after "today"!) 🤣

[sambum]

46 minutes ago, Magictoad said:

broought! WTF. Only one 'o' in brought.

 

See  comment above this one! 🙂 

[ikke1959]

3 hours ago, JJ-Thailand said:

There is a reason why some jobs are for Thais only and there is also a reason why only Thais can own land in Thailand. In some cases, the country would probably benefit to be more open, but they set the rules and overall, I think they have to be very strikt in order not to be completely overrun by foreigners.

 

 

 

You are right, but protectionism can and will be destroying progress... There is no need to protect guides only for Thais.. Thais are very poor in many languages  and it could be solved to open guides for everybody, with the rule that a Thai should be with them, only for help of the foreign guide.. for example to order foods, contact with other Thais... It would be a win-win... And I agree that land is a different item.. Thailand is free to choose to give only Thais the opportunity to buy and have land nothing wrong with that..But on the other hand all businesses must be for 51% in hands of Thai which is ridiculous.. If I want to make a business in Thailand, and I have to invest 100 million THB for example, than I have the minority of shares in my own company and of my money...   I know there are ways to prevent this, but in fact it will keep investors away.. We don't live in the 19 and 20th century anymore.. Thailand must be open and it will bring prosperity for everyone, but it keep the old laws without updating them

[still kicking]

We all know there a certain jobs reserved for Thais, does that also apply to correct visa holders with a work permit?  

[geisha]

10 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

It is impossible in THakiland as being a guide is a protected job only for Thai people.. The EU doesn't have such protected jobs.. Indeed there a Thai can work as a guide if he has the correct visa, but In Thailand being a guide is only for Thais.. All jobs should be open for everybody, and no protection anymore as we don't live in 19/20 century anymore... but as long Thailand is only for Thais, things will go down and down..

No way, there’s enough riff raff foreigners here as it is. 

 

 

 

[ikke1959]

5 hours ago, geisha said:

No way, there’s enough riff raff foreigners here as it is. 

 

 

 

Yeah watch my lips... Over a few years Thailand is begging foreigners to come here, as the country now is chasing them away... Foreigners are needed for the  economy, but as Thailand never had to do anything for tourists  to come, the world has changed and with no investments and outdated laws, we can read already that tourists and expats choose other countries.. You will be happy that the foreigners are gone, but what will be left over for the Thai people ??? Poverty will increase as the debts are now already so high  But whe the expats and tourists are gone it is almost impossible to get them back in a short term.. No more riff raff foreigners, as it seems that Thailand treats all foreigners as criminals...

[AhFarangJa]

12 hours ago, sambum said:

 

Damn! I did see that and deleted it, but it obviously didn't delete, but thank you for bringing it to my attention! 🙂 (P.S. "Brought" should not have a capital "B", and there should be a comma after "today"!) 🤣

Well spotted Sir, two mistakes. One hundred percent. It is actually nice to have a bit of banter without someone throwing their toys out of the pram. Take care Sir.

[JJ-Thailand]

22 hours ago, still kicking said:

We all know there a certain jobs reserved for Thais, does that also apply to correct visa holders with a work permit?  

You won't get a working permit for protected jobs. When I was working here in Thailand, I had a business visa and a working permit for a specific position at a specific company. I was not allowed to take a job at another company without them applying for a new working permit.

[StayinThailand2much]

Illegal, or not. Where was the French-speaking Thai tour guide? The damage of future lost revenue may be bigger than the 'loss of face' that a foreigner did the job for which, probably, they can't find a local candidate...

[still kicking]

5 minutes ago, JJ-Thailand said:

You won't get a working permit for protected jobs. When I was working here in Thailand, I had a business visa and a working permit for a specific position at a specific company. I was not allowed to take a job at another company without them applying for a new working permit.

Isn't that racist? I am in OZ now, there is no such thing as protected jobs for Aussies. Everybody can do any job.

[StayinThailand2much]

6 minutes ago, still kicking said:

Isn't that racist? I am in OZ now, there is no such thing as protected jobs for Aussies. Everybody can do any job.

 

There is ageism. Lots of vacancies in Oz, but unless you're a backpacker under 30, you won't be able to find a way to work as a foreigner...

[still kicking]

3 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Wrong, there is ageism. Lots of vacancies in Oz, but unless you're a backpacker under 30, you won't be able to find a way to work as a foreigner...

Nonsense, my nephew was here for eight years, he is Thai and worked as a nurse, my friend is English and works as a hairdresser none of them is Australian.

[StayinThailand2much]

9 minutes ago, still kicking said:

Nonsense, my nephew was here for eight years, he is Thai and worked as a nurse, my friend is English and works as a hairdresser none of them is Australian.

 

They probably had working holiday visas for those ones 30 (35 some countries) years old and younger...

 

That's why I wrote ageism. 😆 

I would have happily worked there in any job, but I was older than that.

[still kicking]

3 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

They probably had working holiday visas for those ones 30 (35 some countries) years old and younger...

 

That's why I wrote ageism. 😆 

I would have happily worked there in any job, but I was older than that.

My friend has been her for 30 years

[StayinThailand2much]

3 minutes ago, still kicking said:

My friend has been her for 30 years

 

Residential visa, or something like that, then...

[still kicking]

2 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Residential visa, or something like that, then...

I think you don't understand that there is no such thing as jobs for only Aussies.